Hundreds of troops re-enlist on July 4th

I’ve corresponded with dozens of men and women in the sandbox, and they believe passionately in the cause. Morale is high, and casualties are down dramatically. The surge is working, and democracy is taking root.

This is terrific news, considering the tidal wave of negativity from certain elected officials over the past few years. To wit:

“I think it is very difficult for the President to sustain a war of this magnitude without the support of the American people, and without the support of the Congress of the United States. That’s why Congress will vote to oppose the President’s escalation.” – Nancy Pelosi

“In Iraq, his new plan is a plan for more door-to-door fighting, more civil war, more civilian casualties, more troop deaths, more wasted money, more destabilization in the region and more separation from the world community. The President wants to send more troops to Baghdad, where they will work to quell a civil war. Only a small portion – less than 20 percent – of the new effort will be spent in al Anbar, to fight al-Qaeda. Does anyone in this Administration have any sense left at all? They are sending more US troops into the middle of a civil war! – Dennis Kucinich

“Congress needs to take a stand against the President and take the necessary steps to bring our troops home. We need to begin talks with Iran and Syria — and not blame them for our misguided war in Iraq. Diplomacy is the only way to avoid a widening war. If we follow the President’s path of war, we will get . . . more war.” – Dennis Kucinich

“This country needs a dramatic change of course in Iraq and it is the responsibility of this Congress to consummate that change” – Congressman John Murtha

“This escalation is the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Viet Nam.” – Senator Chuck Hagel

“I believe … that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything…” – Harry Reid

“it is too early to provide a definitive assessment of the US ‘surge’ but it does not look likely to succeed.” – The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, urging Prime Minister Brown to withdraw British troops

“I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse.” – Senator Barrak Obama in response to the PSOTUS

“It’s working. We’re just years too late in our tactics. We can’t be fighting the last war. We have to keep preparing to fight the new war. We have to win. I think the best way of honoring their service is bringing them home.” – Senator Hillary Clinton to the VFW

“The Bush Surge will backfire” – General (RET) Wesley Clark

“This whole notion that the surge is working is fantasy.” – Senator Joe Biden